Akufo-Addo has Ghana’s interest at heart - Tony Blair

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Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, says although he is aware of the arduous challenges faced by the New Patriotic Party government in getting the country back on track, he believes the country will come out successfully because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has the interest of Ghana at heart.

Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, says although he is aware of the arduous challenges faced by the New Patriotic Party government in getting the country back on track, he believes the country will come out successfully because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has the interest of Ghana at heart.

“I think this is a very important moment for the country. You've come at a time of great expectation. You have assumed this great responsibility of office and it's very apparent when anyone spends time with you, they realize they are with someone who has the interest of the country in his heart and the right spirit with which to approach these challenges,” the former PM said.

Mr Blair said this when he spoke to the media after holding a close door meeting with the President at the Presidency yesterday.

The former UK PM was in Ghana at the invitation of the Institute of Economic Affairs, to deliver a lecture on democracy.

Mr Blair, who expressed his delight to be back in the country after 10 years, also congratulated the President for emerging victorious in the 2016 elections.

Whilst acknowledging that the country’s challenges were formidable, the former British Prime Minister assured that he would bring his expertise to help the Akufo-Addo administration confront them.

“I know the challenges are formidable. What I work on now is what we were discussing, trying to use the experience of my time in office to do what I can to help countries in their process of change and development. Our initiative is in 8 different countries in Africa today. We just focus on a very simple thing which is helping countries deliver the priorities for their people,” Mr Blair said.

He continued, “We do it in a completely non-partisan, non-political way. But we do it because if the countries can develop and their people prosper I think this is not just good for Ghana but good for the region, good for Africa and good for the world.”

He extolled the capabilities of the President, describing him as someone who ensures that he delivers to the people irrespective of the position he finds himself.

“It's a moment of huge opportunity but you are always very aware of the weight of responsibility that sits on your shoulders and the one thing that I think is absolutely clear about you and the administration you lead is that you are determined to do the very best for your country and its people, and that you are fully aware of both the responsibility and the opportunity,” he said.

The President, for his part, told the media that his government would tap into the experience of the former British premier in the governance of the country.

“He came to have a discussion with me about the ways which he can help. The insights that he’s had into governance and how that could also help me in what I'm trying to do, so I’m very happy to have him here,” the President said.